Supply And Demand wins 2017 Grafton Cup

Tough front running stayer Supply And Demand scored another all the way win in the Listed $160,000 McKimms Real Estate Grafton Cup (2350m) at Grafton today.

Grafton Cup winner Supply And Demand started his 4 race winning streak with his win at Rosehill, above, on June 3. Photo by Steve Hart.

Today’s win was the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s trained Supply And Demand’s fourth win on the trot and winning jockey Josh Parr adopted the same front running tactics that worked when the pair combined last start to win the Listed $175,000 The Pump House Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast on July 1.

Supply And Demand ($3.20 favourite) had to carry 58.5kg today, up 3kg on his Caloundra Cup win, but showed his toughness when he held off all the challengers to record a resounding win.

Runner up Get On The Grange ($11) made a late dive near the finish post while the well supported Chris Waller trained Montauk ($3.80) stuck on for third after having a nice run on the pace.

Parr didn’t let a wide barrier dim his confidence and crossed over effortlessly from the outside gate in the thirteen horse Grafton Cup field by the time they had reached the winning post on the first occasion and dictated the race from there.

“It was sheer toughness that got him home today,” Parr said.

“He didn’t travel from the 700m to the top of the straight. He didn’t travel today like he did at the Sunny Coast where he really towed me into the race and showed a good turn of foot.”

“He was out on his feet 500m from home and when I went for him he found half a length maximum and just sheer toughness to hold them out.”

While Supply And Demand did all the hard work in front to record Gai Waterhouse’s fourth Grafton Cup win, stable representative Neil Paine was quick to heap praise on co-trainer Adrian Bott who shared this Grafton Cup win with the Lady Trainer for the first time.

“All credit goes to the co-trainer Adrian Bott,” Paine said.

“Adrian Bott has been planning this horse’s races over the last six weeks and he has placed him beautifully, winning a couple in Sydney to the Caloundra Cup and to Grafton while Gai has been away on holidays.”

Waterhouse had won the Graton Cup previously with Rocking On in 2006, Queenstown in 2014 and Bonfire two years ago in 2015.